Clemson showed plenty of grit when it picked up a pair of nonconference wins last weekend in Charleston, S.C.
The Tigers will get two opportunities for some more impressive victories in the upcoming weeks, but first comes a visit from Alabama A&M on Friday night.
After facing the Bulldogs, Clemson visits No. 8 Alabama on Wednesday, then heads to New York to face No. 9 BYU in the Jimmy V Classic on Dec. 9.
Clemson (6-1) has won three straight since shooting 41% in a 79-74 loss at Georgetown on Nov. 15. After a 20-point win over North Alabama, the Tigers won twice at the Charleston Classic by making plays in the final minute to earn three-point decisions over West Virginia and Georgia.
Six players have led Clemson in scoring, and when the Tigers outlasted Georgia for a 97-94 overtime win on Sunday, Jestin Porter stepped up with 18 points. Dillon Hunter added 16, including the tiebreaking basket early in overtime.
“Just trying to build off those two wins and how we came together as a team,” Porter said. “I am glad we are figuring it out at the right time. I feel like every game we are coming along.”
Clemson showed its development by rallying from 11 down to beat West Virginia thanks to Carter Welling scoring 11 points in the final three-plus minutes.
The Bulldogs (3-1) are playing the second of three games against power-conference opponents. Alabama A&M shot 34% and allowed 52 points in the paint in its 98-51 loss at Indiana on Nov. 5, and the team will face Ole Miss on Dec. 17.
Since opposing Indiana, the Bulldogs earned a pair of single-digit home victories over Charleston Southern and Lindenwood. Alabama A&M shot 38.8% against Charleston Southern on Nov. 13 and improved to 45.1% in its 74-65 win over Lindenwood on Sunday.
Four players have led the Bulldogs in scoring, including Kintavious Dozier and Sami Pissis. Dozier scored 27 against Charleston Southern before Pissis finished with 19 against Lindenwood.
–Field Level Media
